The damage done by China’s continued under-valuing of its currency is a threat to the U.S. and a drag on our economy. Sending the bill to Mr. Obama would send a strong message to China that unfair trade practices won’t be tolerated.

Although China has let its currency values rise over the past six years, the country continues to fix its exchange rate to put the U.S. and other countries at a competitive disadvantage in the world market. The artificial imbalance makes China’s exports cheaper and its imports pricier. The Yuan is undervalued by as much as 38 percent, according to some economists. That has cost America as many as 2 million jobs in the past decade.

The legislation passed by the Senate would impose retaliatory tariffs on Chinese goods. In addition, the measure would rewrite the definition of currency manipulation used by the U.S. Treasury Department to more easily punish China. Treasury has consistently found Chinese currency undervalued. The Bush and Obama administrations have failed to act on those findings in any meaningful way.

The bill had full support and sponsorship from U.S. Sens. Carl Levin, D-Detroit, and Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing. It passed the Senate with broad backing on a 79-19 vote. Sixteen Republicans joined Democrats in voting for the bill. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, has opposed the legislation out of legitimate concerns that it could spark a trade war with China. President Obama has been largely silent on the subject.

The question of currency manipulation is a long-standing one, and there is little indication that China is ready to stop the practice on its own. Other countries feel the sting. Brazil has taken measures to counter China’s unfair practices. Mr. Boehner, Congress and the president should stop ignoring the problem in hopes it will go away.

The most effective response to China’s policies on currency and intellectual property is a unified international front that makes it clear those practices are unacceptable to a number of trading partners.

Even if the Senate legislation stalls in the face of opposition from the House and the White House, it nevertheless sends a clear message to China that a trading partner on whom it depends is deeply dissatisfied. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp, R-Midland, promised hearings this month on Beijing’s trade practices. He said he would take a “multifaceted, thoughtful approach” to the complex relationship between the U.S. and China.

Those hearings could shed needed light on a range of big questions relating to China. Currency manipulation is hardly the only issue. Nevertheless, China continues to rig its currency rates to hurt the U.S. That problem should be confronted and fixed.

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